The story behind Maddox Photography NZ
Some journeys begin with a plan. Mine began with curiosity, adventure, and a small disposable camera.
Hi my name is John, I grew up in Napier New Zealand - a coastal town where life revolved around the sea. My childhood was shaped by early mornings chasing waves, long afternoons outdoors, and the simple freedom of exploring nature. Surfing quickly became a passion, but wherever I went there was always one extra item tucked into my bag, a cheap disposable box camera.
I photographed everything. Friends jumping off rocks, surfboards buried in sand, windswept coastlines, muddy adventures in the hills. At the time it wasn’t about photography as an art. It was simply about capturing the feeling of the moment.
That curiosity would quietly shape the rest of my life.
Learning the Language of the Outdoors
After finishing school I enrolled at the Salty Rock Adventure Centre, where I spent two years completing my outdoor instructor qualifications. Those years were formative. I specialised in bushcraft and caving, learning not only technical skills but also how to read landscapes, weather, and human behaviour in challenging environments.
The outdoors stopped being just a playground, it became a classroom.
Shortly after graduating I joined a conservation project called Kaweka Kiwi, working to protect one of New Zealand’s most iconic and endangered birds. It was my first real taste of conservation work and it deepened my respect for wildlife and the fragile ecosystems that support it.
But my path was about to head underground (literally).
Eight Years Beneath the Earth
I eventually found myself working as a full-time cave guide in the world-famous Waitomo Caves. What started as a job quickly became an obsession.
For eight years I guided visitors from around the world through labyrinths of limestone passages, glowworm-lit caverns, underground rivers, and vast cathedral-like chambers. Every day was an adventure, part storytelling, part exploration.
Somewhere during that time my old fascination with photography resurfaced.
Caves are among the most difficult environments imaginable to photograph: complete darkness, humidity, tight spaces, and complex lighting challenges. But that difficulty was exactly what drew me in. I became completely hooked on cave photography, experimenting with lighting techniques and documenting places few people ever get to see.
Outside of guiding I spent five years involved in cave exploration, pushing deeper into uncharted passages with a small group of dedicated explorers. Those years also included being involved in two major cave rescues, one of which remains the largest cave rescue operation in New Zealand history.
Those experiences taught me a lot about teamwork, resilience, and staying calm when things become very serious very quickly.
Eventually though, after nearly a decade underground, it was time for a new chapter.
Fifteen Years on the Fire-ground
So it made sense to go from a cold wet cave to becoming a full-time firefighter, serving the Hamilton community and surrounding areas for the next 15 years.
Firefighting is a profession built on trust, discipline, and service. It’s also one that exposes you to the very best and the very worst moments of people’s lives.
During those years my wife and I also started our family. We were blessed with three beautiful children. Life felt full, busy, and meaningful.
But life also has a way of delivering moments that change everything.
The Lotto No One Wants to Win
Our middle child, Maddox, was born with a rare mitochondrial disease.
It’s often described as “winning the lotto that nobody wants to win.” A random and devastating diagnosis that turns life upside down.
We cherished every moment we had with him.
But Just before his second birthday, Maddox passed away.
There are no words that truly explain that kind of loss.
Finding Healing Through the Lens
After Maddox died, photography slowly became something more than a hobby. It became a way to process grief, and to cope with the constant stream of traumatic incidents that come with frontline firefighting.
I started spending more time outdoors with my camera. Forests, wetlands, coastlines, places where life continued quietly, unaffected by the chaos of the human world.
Birds, in particular, captured my attention.
Watching them required patience. Stillness. Presence.
For those moments behind the lens, the noise in my head would soften.
Photography became a form of healing.
Chasing a Dream
Over time I realised something important.
The feeling I had while photographing wildlife, that sense of calm, connection, and being completely present was something I wanted to build my life around.
So I made a decision.
What started as therapy slowly evolved into a dream: creating experiences where other people could feel that same connection to nature and capture beauty through their cameras.
That dream became Maddox Photography NZ — named in honour of the little boy who changed my life forever.
Sharing the Wild With Others
Today, through Maddox Photography NZ, I offer bird photography workshops, private tuition, and small-group wildlife photography tours designed for photographers of all levels. Whether you're picking up a camera for the first time or looking to refine your craft, these experiences are about more than just learning settings and techniques.
They’re about slowing down.
They’re about reconnecting with nature.
And they’re about experiencing those unforgettable moments that happen when you’re truly present in the wild.
From one-on-one tuition in the field to multi-day photography adventures in New Zealand and abroad, every experience is designed to help you build confidence behind the camera while immersing yourself in some of the most incredible wildlife environments.
And that’s exactly why these trips exist.
So why not join me?
Come and experience the thrill of photographing wild birds in their natural environments. Learn new skills, share great company, and most importantly, take time to reconnect with nature and the moment you’re standing in.
Because sometimes the most powerful photographs are the ones that change the way you see the world.
